Located just 10 minutes from Milan’s Malpensa airport, Politecna is a manufacturer of converting technology for the packaging sector and one of Vetaphone’s specialist OEMs.
PHOTO: A Vetaphone 1,920-mm double-sided C Model at work on a Politecna press in the US. The corona treater is fitted with six ceramic electrodes.
Although relatively small, employing 17 people and generating sales of around US$9 million a year, Politecna is one of those little gems that one comes across in the industry from time to time. Packed with experience and knowhow from previous careers, each member of staff brings hands-on capability giving the company a flexible structure that is a perfect fit for the special projects it undertakes.
Founded in 2005 by six partners with a background of tapes, films and flexible packaging, Politecna set out to offer a design, manufacturing, and commissioning service to converters for whom a tailored solution might be the key to success. Operating from a purpose-built, 22,000-sq-ft facility in Bellinzago, where the company carries out all assembling, tests and trials, it can call on a variety of key sub-supplier support within a radius of 5-10 miles. These include mechanical machining, thermal and surface treatments, pneumatic and hydraulic systems, as well as electrics, electronics and automation.
Sales Manager Franco Longo explains the company’s philosophy, “For Politecna every project is ‘The Project’ and not one of several projects. Our policy is to work on one big project at a time, and all our resources are focussed on the execution of this to the highest level of quality at every stage until the final and full satisfaction of the customer.” He also stated that the company’s commitment never ends with acceptance tests or the expiring of the warranty period. “Our name and reputation are on the product so any problem with it is ours to solve – that way we can grow with the customer.”
It was this attitude and business ethos that first brought Politecna and Vetaphone together – a kindred spirit shared by two specialists in their own field. With the majority of substrates converted on Politecna equipment being film or foil, and therefore requiring surface treatment, the company researched the market for a quality corona system that matched its own standards. The cooperative partnership with Vetaphone now extends beyond ten years and is fostered by the Danish manufacturer’s Sales Manager in Italy, Giuseppe Rossi.
“In the wide web sector, the customer often specifies which ancillary equipment they want fitted and it was the switch from an Italian corona manufacturer to Vetaphone by one of Politecna’s biggest users that first attracted them. Since then, we have worked closely together integrating our technology on several special projects for leading European converters, many of which are subject to NDAs and therefore cannot be named!” he explained.
Currently set up to manufacture and deliver one big line per year, Politecna is seeking to double its capacity in the near future. “As substrates become more complex and techniques more sophisticated, we are finding a growing interest in our specialist service, which includes retrofits and upgrades to existing lines as well as complete floor-up machines,” says Longo. These include lacquering, laminating, coating, and extrusion coating lines.
‘Tailored’ is a term often heard at Politecna, where the accent is on driving production efficiency. This does not always require a complete new line – it can often be accomplished with a variety of engineering skills that the company has in-house. “We have the experience and knowledge to problem solve in the most cost-effective way – that’s our unique selling point. And this chimes well with Vetaphone’s approach to business where no two jobs are identical,” he says, adding that fast response from ancillary suppliers is essential in today’s business environment. “Vetaphone is very responsive – others less so, and the situation overall needs to improve.”
More info: www.vetaphone.com, www.politecnasrl.com